John Gilbert Civil Disobedience

Of course how John Gilbert viewed this flattering reward by the NSW government is unknown suffice to say his good natured character and quick wit and theatrical disposition would cause him much merriment and would make him one of the most intriguing of the gang who were to take the western and southern districts of NSW by storm. John Gilbert as such however, and unlike his compatriot Ben Hall who’s foray into lawlessness could be derived from a number of self-perceived and self-inflicted brushes with the police, particularly Sir Frederick Pottinger, a merciless enforcer of the law and one officer whose suspicions of Hall’s fraternization with the lawless element including Gardiner and Gilbert had much foundation, whereas Gilbert from his early